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Informist, Monday, Apr. 20, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – Upholding its previous Jan. 5 order, the Supreme Court Monday rejected activist Umar Khalid's review plea seeking bail in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case. "Having gone through the review petition and also the documents enclosed, we do not find any good ground and reason to review the judgment dated 05.01.2026 (Jan. 5, 2026). Accordingly, the review petition is dismissed," a bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice N.V. Anjaria said.

 

On Jan. 5, the Supreme Court had denied bail to activists Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid in connection with the Delhi riots conspiracy case. The top court had, however, granted bail to activists Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Shifa Ur Rehman, Mohd. Saleem Khan, and Shadab Ahmed in the case.

 

Khalid and Imam stood on a qualitatively different footing from the other accused, the top court had said. The prosecution material disclosed a prima facie allegation against Khalid and Imam under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and the statutory threshold for not granting bail under the Act was applicable, the court had said. This stage of proceedings did not justify their enlargement on bail, the court had said.

 

The apex court had said that the prosecution materials prima facie disclosed "a central and formative role" and "involvement in the level of planning, mobilisation and strategic direction extending beyond episodic and localised acts." It said that Khalid and Imam could renew their bail applications after the examination of protected witnesses or after one year.

 

In February 2020, northeast Delhi, where a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act was underway for several months, erupted in violence that left 53 dead and hundreds injured. Following the violence between Feb. 23 and Feb. 25, 2020, the Delhi Police arrested several student activists, alleging their involvement in the conspiracy to incite the riots. They were charged under multiple laws, including the Indian Penal Code, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, the Arms Act, 1959, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

 

The petitioners argued that they have already spent nearly five years in custody and the slow pace of the trial makes prolonged incarceration unjustifiable. They said they were entitled to be released on bail on grounds of parity with co-accused Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita, and Asif Iqbal Tanha, who were granted bail by the court in 2021.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

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